T HE B IG B END ’ S O THER R ESIDENTS
By Danielle Gallo. Illustrations by Kevin Bishop.
O
ften when we talk about the Big
Bend it’s with a focus on its
human inhabitants, their histo-
ry, cultures, clashes and idiosyncrasies.
But far outnumbering the human popu-
lations past and present is a rich diversi-
ty of plant and animal populations,
some of which exist nowhere else.
Here is a summary of a few of the
lesser-known species of plants, reptiles,
birds and mammals that grace the Trans-
Pecos region, many of them threatened,
endangered or simply non-existent else-
where on the globe. We are fortunate to
live in an ecosystem that so many species
can safely call home, and doubly fortu-
nate that our large system of national
and state parks and forests offer them the
protection they need to survive the 21st
century.
To begin, here’s a checklist for plant
lovers, a scavenger hunt of species great
and small in the Big bend region.
Texas Quaking Aspens Populus
tremuloides While aspen trees are wide-
spread throughout the mountains of
North America, Big Bend National park
10
hosts the southernmost stand of them in
the United States. They live on the
southwest slope of Emory Peak.
Quaking aspen groves are considered to
be a singular organism, each tree sharing
identical genetic markers and a single
root system.
Chisos
Hedgehog
Cactus
Echinocereus chisoensis This low-growing
cactus is found only in the shade of other
plants at low elevations in the Chisos
Mountain area. It blooms with a unique
orange blossom. It is endangered, and
listed federally for protection.
Terlingua Creek Cat’s Eye
Cryptantha crassipes This flowering perre-
nial has been found only within a radius
of a few miles of Terlingua Creek, north
of Hen Egg Mountain. It has low-grow-
ing, fuzzy grayish leaves and five-petalled
white flowers with a yellow center on a
tall, slender stalk.
Bunched Cory Cactus Coryphantha
ramillosa This spiny beauty has a single
unbranched stem and sports delicate
purple flowers with a gold and white
center. It occurs within an eight mile
radius of Marathon.
Lloyd’s Mariposa Cactus Neolloydia
mariposensis Named with the Spanish
word for ‘butterfly,’ Lloyd’s Mariposa
occurs in Brewster County within an
Cenizo
Third Quarter 2018
area south of the salt grass draw to an
area just east of Highway 385 at Dove
Mountain Ranch Road, to just north of
the Rio Grande. It is found in elevations
between 2,600 and 4,600 feet. It grows
as a delicate whitish sphere of interwov-
en spikes, topped with a cluster of long-
petalled flowers ranging in color from
deep fuchsia to white.
Davis’s Green Pitaya Echinocereus
viridiflorus var. davisi This federally
endangered cactus is tiny, often project-
ing above ground only three to six cen-
timeters. Its single green flower has been
studied to determine how it reflects UV
light to attract bees and other pollina-
tors, and has been found to reflect UV
light toward the outer part of the petal,
helping it to stand out against the back-
ground landscape and direct the pollina-
tor toward the center of the flower. It
occurs only in Brewster County, prima-
rily within a ten-mile radius of
Marathon.
Nellie Cory Cactus Coryphantha
minima Another endangered cactus that
lives only in Brewster County, primarily
in the Marathon area, the Nellie Cory
Cactus is taller than it is wide at the base,
occasionally branching and growing
about four centimeters tall. It boasts del-
icate purple flowers that make it a
favorite among cactus collectors.
Giant Dagger Yucca Yucca
carnerosana This massive yucca is found
primarily in Dagger Flats in Big Bend
National Park, though the species is
widely distributed in Northern Mexico.
It can grow to be 40 feet tall, its trunk
often branching, and is topped with
large cascades of white blossoms during
blooming. Taller than most native trees,
it is an impressive specimen.
For animal lovers hoping to spot
some rare Texas species, here are a few
furry, feathered and scaled friends to be
on the lookout for.
Del Carmen Whitetail Deer
Odocoileus virginianus carminis The Del
Carmen Whitetails are the smallest
species of deer in Texas, with males aver-
aging around 100 pounds and females a
mere 66 pounds. Their range is limited
to the upper elevations in Big Bend
National Park and the immediate area,
including the Chisos Basin and the
Rosillos Mountains. They are frequently
seen grazing around the Lodge and visi-
tor’s center in the Basin area.
Colima Warbler Oreothlypis crissalis
This highly-sought songbird, a favorite
for birdwatchers, nests in wooded
canyons above 5,000 feet in the Chisos
Mountains. Though it is found in
Mexico, southern Brewster County is its
northernmost range, and Big bend
National Park is the only place to find it
in the United States.
Mexican
Long-nosed
Bat
Leptonycteris nivalis This endangered
species feeds on nectar and pollen,
including from the agave or century
plant, using its elongated snout to drink
from the long, deep flowers. Agave har-
vesting for tequila production is partly
responsible for this bat’s status as an
endangered species, and the Chisos
Basin is the only place where it occurs in
the United States, where a single colony
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